Packaging

Keith Chessell is a packaging evangelist. Being in the industry for the best part of 50 years, he was there at the beginning when consumers and manufacturers alike knew that packaging sustainability was going to be an issue going forward for many industries, including food and beverage. He was there when the Keep Australia Beautiful … Continue reading Why the food packaging industry needs to sell itself better →

Residing in Hawkes Bay, Hawk is a proudly New Zealand-owned and operated company. Sustainability is at the heart of the organisation and as a moulded fibre packaging suppliers, all of its products are made from 100 per cent recycled paper.  Its packaging solutions are used for, among other things, apple trays in the horticulture industry. … Continue reading SMC provides 4.0 solution for New Zealand-based manufacturer →

Plastic is an incredible material. It can be airtight and watertight, moulded to any shape, clear or coloured, shock-resistant, lightweight, and is chemically stable. Unfortunately, these last two features also mean plastic pollution poses a huge environmental problem. In theory, plastic is highly recyclable. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), typically used in drink bottles, can be recycled … Continue reading Bans are effective, but not the endgame in solving the plastic problem →

Mars Incorporated has appointed a new general manager, Bill Heague, to lead Mars Food Australia. Heague originally joined the Mars company in 2008 as sales manager for Mars Food Australia, the manufacturer of food brands such as Masterfoods, Uncle Ben’s, Dolmio, Kantong, Promite and Seeds of Change. Following a successful five-year stint with Mars Food … Continue reading Mars’ Heague returns home to take up GM role →

Two Australian companies offering competing products, Little Green Panda and Stroh, have joined forces in a bid to eliminate disposable plastic straws from the food service industry by replacing them with compostable, plant-based alternatives made from wheat stems. Sharing a mutual commitment to eradicating single-use plastics in the retail and hospitality industries, Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu and … Continue reading Little Green Panda and Stroh tackle drinking straw issue →

Consultation on Modernising the Research and Development Corporation system: Discussion paper has been extended until 25 November, 2019, giving stakeholders more time to put forward imaginative and innovative ideas to drive future success in Australian agriculture. Minister for Agriculture Bridget McKenzie said the discussion paper was calling for ideas to modernise Australia’s Research and Development … Continue reading Consultation over modernising agricultural R&D extended →

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has today launched the Food Services Packaging Sustainability Guidelines, a new resource to help Australian food service businesses to achieve the best sustainability outcomes for their packaging. The guidelines were launched on Thursday at the Australian Waste and Recycling Expo at the Sydney International Convention Centre, during an industry … Continue reading APCO launches new guidelines with regard to food packaging →

Katy Barfield has been named a winner in the Business and Entrepreneur category at the  AFR 100 Women of Influence Awards for being a serial innovator and Australia’s leading food waste warrior with a proven ability to rapidly scale organisations with a social conscience. Barfield has worked relentlessly over the past 14 years to address … Continue reading Food waste warrior wins →

Carlsberg Group is trying to  create the world’s first ‘paper’ beer bottle made from sustainably sourced wood fibres that is both 100 per cent bio-based and fully recyclable. Carlsberg has unveiled two new research prototypes of its Green Fibre Bottle, which are the first ‘paper bottles’ to contain beer. Carlsberg also announced it has been … Continue reading Carlsberg moves to create paper beer bottle →

Brownes Dairy will replace its existing milk cartons with an Australian first, a carton package made entirely from plant-based, renewable materials in a new sustainable packaging move. Tetra Rex Bio-based package is the world’s first fully renewable beverage carton, with the protective layers derived from sugar cane. “There is a lot of emphasis on the … Continue reading Brownes Dairy switches to plant-based renewable packaging →

With Australia producing 7.3 million tonnes of food waste across the supply and consumption chain, and a Federal Government National Food Waste Strategy to halve food waste that goes to landfill by 2030, now is the time for packaging technologists to review pack designs that could minimise food waste and losses. According to the National … Continue reading The role that resealable packaging plays in minimising food waste →

The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) is heading over to Perth on the 29th and 30th of October to run our ‘Tools to Help you Meet the 2025 National Packaging Targets: PREP & ARL training course + Cleanaway Materials Recovery Facility Site Visit’ and participate in the ‘WA food and beverage packaging forum’ being held … Continue reading AIP heads to Perth with National Packaging Targets initiative →

Today, on World Food Day, OzHarvest will show Aussies that tackling climate change, starts with your plate!  The social media campaign #countmein aims to inspire individual action and show thatmaking small changes to your own food waste is one of the few personal habits that can actually help restore the planet. Food waste is often … Continue reading OzHarvest targets food waste on World Food Day →

Australia will be better prepared to manage significant animal biosecurity threats, such as African swine fever (ASF), through a new comprehensive online field guide for emergency animal diseases. Head of Biosecurity, Lyn O’Connell, said the guide will help vets with early detection, diagnosis and control of exotic and emerging infectious diseases in livestock. “Early identification … Continue reading How to better manage animal disease threats →

Crispy roasted crickets were recently served in a sushi restaurant in London, re-igniting the discussion about integrating insects into consumer diets. However, less thought has been given to what industry will have to do to handle these new food types. Here Darcy Simonis, industry network leader for ABB’s food and beverage segment, explains how manufacturers … Continue reading Developing new processes for new ingredients →

Cooling and forming are critical stages in the production of both chocolate and confectionery, and few companies have more experience in these areas than Melbourne-based IPCO. As an independent company owned by FAM AB, and part of the Swedish-based Wallenberg group, IPCO is a globally active engineering company with sales and service offices in more … Continue reading Steel belts for chocolate manufacturing solutions →

A fully compostable shrink-wrap for cucumbers has been developed in South Australia and is set to be launched on international markets. The compostable wrap is manufactured by BioBag World Australia and took 12 months to develop in partnership with South Australian produce and packaging businesses IG Fresh Produce. It was launched in September as an … Continue reading Compostable cucumber wrap from BioBag World →

According to Dr Mathew McDougall, CEO of Reach China and revered expert in doing business with China, Australia’s trade relationship with China is growing by the day and it includes large scale exports of resources through to everyday items which small and medium size Aussie businesses are ideally placed to provide. “China represents a huge … Continue reading Seven things you should know when exporting to China →

Fast automation in confined installation spaces: igus has now developed an extra-compact toothed belt axis based on its flat drylin N linear system. The new axis consists of a standard fitment of components and is therefore cost-effective and easily assembled within a few minutes. Equipped with motor and control, the new system can carry loads … Continue reading Compact toothed belt axis for automation in the tightest of spaces →

Sister companies, Caspak Australia and Caspak New Zealand, who specialise in flexible packaging, have merged their operations and brands. While financial management of the companies will remain country-based, the merger will result in streamlining and increased efficiencies of both businesses. The merger will see the companies operate as a single entity in order to pool … Continue reading Caspak streamlines Australasian businesses →